Line Array Speaker Power Redundancy for Uninterrupted Audio

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional speaker systems, particularly line-array speaker systems, are vulnerable to performance interruptions due to power supply failures, which are common in professional and touring applications, despite having robust network connections.

Innovation Solution

Self-powered speaker systems with redundant power supplies and audio signal/control connections, including a dedicated power supply and a front-end backup power supply, along with a field programmable gate array (FPGA) for controlling audio and control communications, enable continuous operation even in the event of power failures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional speaker system uses a single power supply, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to vulnerability to power supply failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoidpower supply configuration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The backup power supply is pre-configured and ready before any failure occurs. When the primary power supply fails, the system automatically switches to the backup power supply without interruption to audio signal and control communications, ensuring continuous operation during live performances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The redundant power supply architecture provides a safety cushion against power failures. By having a backup power supply already in place and integrated into the system architecture, the patent eliminates the vulnerability of single-power-supply systems while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Reliability

If a speaker system implements redundant power supply, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower supply reliabilityVSAvoidpower supply architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The backup power supply is integrated with the primary power supply through a unified power distribution architecture. Both power supplies connect to common bus bars and share the same control circuitry, reducing the complexity that would arise from completely separate systems while maintaining redundancy for enhanced reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The power connector and distribution system are designed to handle both primary and backup power supplies through the same interface and routing infrastructure. This multi-functional design allows the system to operate with either power supply independently, simplifying the overall architecture while ensuring reliable operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If the speaker system uses dedicated power supply without backup, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidperformance continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply system is segmented into modular components - primary power supply, backup power supply, and power distribution unit. Each module can be manufactured and tested independently, then assembled into the complete system. This segmentation maintains manufacturing simplicity while enabling redundancy for improved reliability and performance continuity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If the speaker system implements redundant power and network connections, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem availabilityVSAvoidconnection architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The power distribution unit acts as an intermediary between the primary/backup power supplies and the various system components. It manages power routing, monitoring, and switching functions centrally, reducing the complexity that would result from distributed power management across multiple components while ensuring continuous power availability for enhanced system reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11496833B2Powered line array speaker system with redundant network and power supply

Publication Date: 2022.11.08 BOSE CORP

AI summary

Various implementations include speaker systems. In one implementation, a self-powered speaker system includes: a first module, having: a processor; an audio signal and control connector coupled with the processor and enabling audio signal and control communication between the processor and another module in the speaker system; a dedicated power supply for the speaker system; a front end backup power supply; and a power connector coupled with the dedicated power supply and the front end backup power supply, the power connector enabling input power to the dedicated power supply and output power from the front end backup power supply.